How I discovered my passion for psychology (and English, too!)
Elena Tittel ’25 had no intention of becoming a psychology major. She was set on declaring an English major and hadn’t thought about exploring a double major. However, in the first week of classes, she was immediately drawn to the Psychology Department. At the start of her sophomore year, she declared a double major in English and psychology.
Elena describes some of her experiences as a psychology major at Skidmore.
How did you become familiar with the Psychology Department?
I was first exposed to the Psychology Department through my first-year Scribner Seminar, Human Dilemmas, with Professor Sheldon Solomon, who is now my primary faculty advisor. Before taking his class, I knew he was a distinguished professor who has made profound contributions to the fields of existential and experimental psychology.
In the seminar, Professor Solomon used his unique teaching style to inspire students. In particular, his interesting sense of humor kept us engaged.
He took the time to connect with us and help us truly understand the material. That was when I knew I wanted to continue taking psychology classes.
During the fall of my first year, I also took Introduction to Psychology. I made this decision solely because I had taken AP Psychology in high school and figured I’d need to take Intro if I wanted to take another psychology class in the future. Little did I know that there would be many more psychology classes to come.
What are psychology classes like? Which classes would you recommend?
Skidmore offers a wide array of psychology courses – classes focused on cognition, behavioral psychology, psychological disorders, developmental psychology, and more. Like my first-year Scribner Seminar, classes are typically a mixture of lecture and discussion, with the higher-level classes leaning primarily towards discussion.
My two favorite classes so far have been Personality with Professor Solomon and Psychological Disorders with Lecturer McKenzie Miller.
After my experience in his Scribner Seminar, I really wanted to take another class with Professor Solomon, and I was not disappointed. We learned about theories of personality, including those of Sigmund Freud, Karen Horney, Erich Fromm, and Carl Jung.
In psychological disorders, we were given an overview of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) and learned about different mental disorders through lectures, games, and collaborative group work.
How can students get involved with psychology research?
There are myriad research opportunities at Skidmore. One way you can get involved is through independent research with faculty members. There are many labs to choose from, including ones focused on childhood cognition, existential psychology, and language development.
In the spring of my sophomore year, I joined Visiting Assistant Professor Lisa Chalik’s Developing Minds Lab, which focuses on childhood cognition and behavioral psychology.
In the lab, we study how children perceive, make judgments about, and interact with ingroup and outgroup members. My role in the lab has been to assist in collecting and analyzing literature and doing data collection at the Early Childhood Center, a laboratory school here at Skidmore.
What can students do beyond laboratory research?
Students have the option to complete a senior thesis or senior seminar alongside a faculty member, often your advisor. The senior thesis coda consists of designing your own research study about a subject of your choosing.
Does the Skidmore offer internships?
Skidmore psychology majors can apply for a clinical field placement, typically in their junior or senior year. Students can choose to work at Four Winds Psychiatric Center, Saratoga Bridges, Prospect Child and Family Center, or the Reece School Summer Camp.
Clinical field placements allow students to gain firsthand experience in clinical psychology and is a great resumé-builder for those hoping to pursue psychology in graduate school.
Does the Psychology Department offer behavioral neuroscience courses?
Yes. Skidmore offers a Neuroscience Program and major that overlap with the Psychology Department, as well as other sciences, such as chemistry and biology. Neuroscience offers unique research opportunities, such as in cognitive neuroscience and behavioral neuroscience, in collaboration with biology, mathematics, psychology, and neuroscience faculty members. Majors can complete a senior thesis/research project with a faculty member, usually a specific project or a summer fellowship.
Can I take a psychology class without being a major?
Yes! You can take almost any 200-level psychology course without being a psychology major, with the only prerequisite being PS101 (Introduction to Psychology.) Even if you’re not a major, I definitely recommend taking a course, even if it’s just PS101.
About Elena Tittel ’25: Elena is from Ridgefield, Connecticut. She majors in both English and psychology. Beyond the classroom, she participates in Lively Lucy’s with her band Mason Jar, writes articles for SkidNews, does research in the Developing Minds Lab, takes voice lessons, and does freelance reporting for the Saratogian. After graduation, she hopes to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in either creative writing or journalism.